Common mistakes
Elicit and illicit: meaning, spelling, and use
Sign in to saveTwo words can sound exactly alike and still do completely different jobs. Elicit and illicit are a useful pair to check before you send an important email or report.
Choose elicit when someone causes a response or obtains information, and illicit when something is illegal or forbidden.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
elicit; illicit /ɪˈlɪsɪt/; /ɪˈlɪsɪt/
The short answer
Elicit means to draw out a response or information. Illicit means illegal or forbidden.
The interviewer tried to elicit a clear answer, while the report investigated illicit trade.
Why it works: Elicit names the action of getting an answer. Illicit describes the trade as unlawful.
3 more examples
-
The teacher used an open question to elicit ideas from the class.
The teacher's question encourages students to give their ideas.
Not this:The teacher used an open question
to illicit ideasfrom the class. What changes: Illicit is an adjective, so it cannot follow to as the action in this sentence. -
The new policy aims to reduce illicit sales online.
The sales are prohibited or unlawful.
Not this:The new policy aims to reduce
elicit salesonline. What changes: Elicit is a verb. It does not describe sales as legal or illegal. -
Her comment elicited laughter from the audience.
The comment caused the audience to laugh.
Not this:Her comment
was illicitat the audience event. What changes: Illicit could describe conduct that breaks a rule, though it does not express the idea of causing laughter.
Read the full guide
Start by looking at the word's role in the sentence. If the word names an action, choose elicit. If it describes a noun such as drugs, activity, or trade, choose illicit.
Find the action or the description
Elicit is a verb, so it usually follows a subject or to. It tells you what someone or something does. Illicit is an adjective, so it usually sits before a noun and tells you about that noun.
A careful question can elicit useful details from a customer.
Use elicit for a response that comes out
You can elicit an answer, a reaction, a confession, information, sympathy, or laughter. The person asking, showing, or saying something does not create the response alone; they cause it to be expressed by someone else.
The photograph elicited strong memories for several visitors.
Use illicit for what rules forbid
Illicit describes an activity, product, or payment that breaks a law or official rule. It often occurs in reporting, legal writing, and news coverage. The word is stronger and more formal than simply saying something is wrong.
The agency examined an alleged illicit payment.
Let the grammar check your spelling
After can, will, tried to, or aims to, you need the verb elicit. Before a noun such as activity, trade, drugs, or payment, you may need the adjective illicit. This quick grammar check is more reliable than trying to hear a difference.
They hoped to elicit a response. The investigators examined illicit activity.
Practise with a real choice
A survey asks customers what would improve their experience. Which word completes the sentence: The survey was designed to ___ feedback?
Use elicit. The survey is designed to draw feedback out from customers.
Before you go
Remember this
Remember the grammar: elicit is an action word, and illicit is a describing word. Both sound like i-LISS-it, so use the sentence role and the spelling to make the right choice.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Elicit and illicit: meaning, spelling, and use"
What is the difference between elicit and illicit?
Elicit is a verb meaning to draw out a response, reaction, or information. Illicit is an adjective meaning illegal or forbidden.
The teacher used an open question to elicit ideas from the class.
Do elicit and illicit sound the same?
Yes. Both words are usually pronounced i-LISS-it. Use the spelling and grammar in the sentence to decide which word is meant.
The teacher used an open question to illicit ideas from the class.
Can I say elicit information?
Yes. You can elicit information, a response, an answer, or a reaction. It means that a question, action, or event causes the information or response to be expressed.
The new policy aims to reduce illicit sales online.
What nouns commonly follow illicit?
Illicit often comes before nouns such as activity, trade, drugs, goods, payment, or relationship. It describes something prohibited by a law or official rule.
The new policy aims to reduce elicit sales online.
How do I remember the spelling of illicit?
Remember that illicit describes illegal things and begins with ill. Check that it stands before a noun. Use elicit when the sentence needs an action word.
Her comment elicited laughter from the audience.